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JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) laid stress on the need to maintain partnership between Indonesia and the United States while receiving US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Thursday.

“During the meeting, the president said that Indonesia is a partner and good friend of the United States. Indonesia wants the US to be its true friend, but this cannot be taken for granted,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated while speaking at a virtual press conference after accompanying Jokowi, who had received Pompeo in Bogor on Thursday.

President Jokowi noted that serious efforts, mutual understanding, and concrete cooperation, including economic cooperation, were indispensable for maintaining partnership between both nations.

“The president emphasised that Indonesia is keen to witness economic cooperation between the two countries increase in future, including, of course, the aspirations of extending GSP facilities to Indonesia,” the foreign minister remarked.

President Jokowi also urged to intensify defence cooperation with the US.

Jokowi is optimistic that the US would be understanding of the interests of developing countries and Muslim-majority nations.

“In addition, the president said that Indonesia had appealed to the United States to also adopt an understanding approach towards Southeast Asia and Southeast Asian countries to create peace, stability, and cooperation in the region,” Marsudi stated.